* Today’s Tribune editorial is partly right…
Illinois FIRST expired in 2004, and the state hasn’t had a capital plan since. It’s not because Illinois has all the infrastructure it needs and certainly not because of a dwindling demand for band uniforms and bocce courts. It’s because lawmakers are afraid—with good reason—that Gov. Rod Blagojevich will hijack the money, axing the goodies meant for lawmakers’ pals and passing out prizes to his own friends instead.
It’s not just that they fear the governor will whack their pork, the bigger fear is that the governor will refuse to release money for much-needed projects in their districts. The solution that the Tribune gets behind won’t assuage their fears…
The Metropolitan Planning Council has a good answer. Alarmed that Illinois has fallen behind other states in its transportation investments, the council proposes a new system for evaluating and ranking capital projects using objective criteria.
Just because something is ranked high doesn’t mean that the governor will release the funding. This is a truly huge problem of the governor’s own making. He simply cannot be trusted on anything.
* Meanwhile, like I told you earlier, I’ve been telling subscribers about these budget developments for the past ten days or so, and reported Friday about this particular point…
Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, told a group of budget negotiators Thursday that the Senate Democrats intend to pass a “limited growth” state budget and adjourn by May 31. Rep. Gary Hannig, D-Litchfield, the House Democrats’ representative at the negotiations, confirmed the statement.
The House, meanwhile, is putting together its own budget, which will start working its way through House committees next week.
* Actually, there’s more to it than that. A noon budget briefing on Friday revealed that the House has more than one plan. The Daily Herald gives us a brief look…
House Democrats say they’re looking at approving different versions covering a bare-bones maintenance budget to keep the state running once the current budget expires on June 30, and then offering expanded versions as agreement can be found.
The bare-bones version would likely offer no funding increases except where required by law, legislators said. It’s unlikely to please those calling for increased education spending, and advocates of the poor and disabled who say the state isn’t meeting its responsibilities in key areas.
That may not be the budget which surfaces this week. Things have a way of changing. Stay tuned.
* Related…
* State aid could be delayed for Illinois schools
* Estimated proceeds from casino license too high?
* EDITORIAL: Lawmakers must overcome lack of trust
* Veterans Home staff to march against mandatory overtime
* Lawmakers’ odds on adjournment
* Legislature hopes to avoid overtime
* Editorial: They want to . . . pimp us‘
* Kids still face unsafe roads as state holds U.S. funds
* Everything Blagojevich touches does not turn to gold
* Complete study, plan needed before closing prisons
* Legislators push halt to prison closures
* We need new jobs, not a shell game
* If you build it…
* The costs of delay